Gathered in my name Sept. 10, 2017

The Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Reading I:  EZ. 33: 7-9

Psalm:  95

Reading II:  Rom 13:8-10

Gospel:  Mat. 18: 15-20

I am old enough to remember when many families, or parts of families, would respond to Fr. Peyton’s slogan: “The family that prays together stays together.” It was a simpler time when one salary would be sufficient to make ends meet for a family. There was the leisure to gather together for an evening meal and also to pray.

The gathering not only connected them with the Lord, but also to one another. I recall being told a story by my eighth-grade teacher about a family who prayed the rosary together each night after supper. One night the seven-year-old boy was responding to each “Hail Mary,” but was silent when the “Our Father” was said. 

Since the mother realized that the boy knew the prayer, she asked him privately afterward why he was not saying the “Our Father.” He confided in her that he was mad at his brother and didn’t want to forgive him. However, he still wanted God to forgive him if he did something wrong. With this revelation, the mother was able to remedy the situation. If the boy had not confided in his mother, resentment between the brothers could well have spoiled their relationship for life.

The late Fr. Mark Link, S.J., in his book, Vision 2000, relates the
following story: When George Anderson was a chaplain of New York’s Riker Island Prison, he prayed over the story of the Good Samaritan with a group of prisoners. It was very cold in the room and one prisoner was wrapped in two blankets. Noticing that one of the other prisoners was shivering, the man with two blankets, removed one and covered the shivering man with it.  Praying together not only inspired generosity in the prisoner, but it also made him aware of the need of his fellow prisoner.

In our St. Katharine Drexel Faith-sharing Circle, which meets every Sunday morning, we have become aware of the burdens and joys of one another and our loved ones. Praying together on a regular basis has enabled us to support and celebrate with one another as circumstances warrant.

 Reflection:   Is there a way you can join with family, friends, or parishioners in order to benefit from experiencing the blessings of being gathered together in His name?

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Reunidos en Mi Nombre

Tengo edad suficiente para recordar cuándo muchas familias, o partes de familias, responderían al P. El lema de Peyton: “La familia que reza juntos permanece unida”. Era un tiempo más simple cuando un salario sería suficiente para llegar a fin de mes para una familia. Había tiempo libre para reunirse para cenar y también para orar.

La reunión no sólo les conectó con el Señor, sino también entre sí. Recuerdo que me contó una historia de mi maestra de octavo grado sobre una familia que rezaba el rosario juntos cada noche después de la cena. Una noche, el niño de siete años estaba respondiendo a cada “Ave María”, pero se quedó en silencio cuando se dijo el “Padre Nuestro”.

Desde que la madre se dio cuenta de que el niño conocía la oración, le preguntó en privado por qué no estaba diciendo el “Padre Nuestro”. Confió en ella que estaba enojado con su hermano y no quería perdonarlo. Sin embargo, todavía quería que Dios le perdonara si hacía algo malo. Con esta revelación, la madre fue capaz de remediar la situación. Si el niño no se había confiado en su madre, el resentimiento entre los hermanos bien podría haber estropeado su relación de por vida.

El difunto P. Marco Link, S.J., en su libro Vision 2000, relata la

Siguiente historia: Cuando Jorge Anderson era capellán de la prisión de Nueva York Riker Island, oró por la historia del buen samaritano con un grupo de prisioneros. Hacía mucho frío en la habitación y un prisionero estaba envuelto en dos mantas. Notando que uno de los otros prisioneros temblaba, el hombre con dos mantas, se quitó uno y cubrió al hombre tembloroso con él. Orar juntos no sólo inspiró generosidad en el prisionero, sino que también lo hizo consciente de la necesidad de su compañero prisionero.

En nuestro Círculo de Fe-compartir de St. Katharine Drexel, que se reúne todos los domingos por la mañana, nos hemos dado cuenta de las cargas y las alegrías de unos a otros y nuestros seres queridos. Orar juntos en forma regular nos ha permitido apoyar y celebrar unos con otros, según las circunstancias lo justifiquen.

 Reflexión:   ¿Hay alguna manera de unirte con la familia, los amigos o los feligreses para poder beneficiarse de experimentar las bendiciones de estar reunidos en Su nombre?

Feb. 26, 2017 - Divine Providence

The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time  A

Reading 1:  Isaiah 49:14-15
Response:  Psalm 62
Reading II:  1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Gospel:  Matthew 6:24-34

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us not to worry. He reminds us that God cares for the birds and flowers. Then, He suggests that we are of more value than these. He reminds us that we cannot add a single moment to our lifespan. Yet, I am a first-class worrier.

Why? I try to avoid pain or trouble for others, and myself, by being pro-active. This has seemed to be a positive thing. However, I know it has me living in the future instead of the present. Hence, I often miss current opportunities to “smell the roses.”

Also, there must be a deeper meaning to this admonition of Jesus. Yes, I am a worrier, but I seldom think of it as sinful. I seldom think of the fact that my trust in the Lord is not strong even after so many years of seeing the wisdom of God either at the time or in retrospect. Often, the Lord has been able to bring good out of what seemed bad. He has “written straight with crooked lines.”

One of my favorite spiritual reading books is Abandonment to Divine Providence, a classic by Jean Pierre de Caussade, S.J., which I first read when I was about 18 years old. I have decided to read it again since I still have not achieved the ideal practice of the “sacrament of the present moment” which it advocates.

Fr. de Caussade points out that Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived an ordinary life on the exterior level. However, her interior life was extraordinary because moment by moment her goal was to fulfill the Will of God. He notes that she “...looked upon all that she had to do or suffer at each moment as the gift of Him who fills with good things the hearts of those who hunger and thirst for Him alone.”

Later, Fr. de Caussade goes on to say that sanctity consists in “doing the will of God, not in understanding His designs.” That can be a big challenge for us. That requires trust.

That requires our remembering God’s action in our lives in the past. Our Jewish brothers and sisters model this for us in their celebration of the Feast of Passover. This yearly reminder of God’s faithfulness in the past is a strong basis for trust in the present.

I guess for us to grow stronger in our trust, we have to look at the pain and troubles of life not as some things to anxiously avoid, but to accept them along with the joys of life as part of God’s plan.

Let us remember that in order for plants [or us] to grow, there must be both sunshine and rain. Let us live with gratitude to the Lord at each moment, whether we are currently enjoying the sunshine or experiencing the rain, trusting that our Father knows what we need.

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Divina providencia 

En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús nos dice que no nos preocupemos. Nos recuerda que Dios cuida de los pájaros y las flores. Luego, Él sugiere que somos de más valor que estos. Nos recuerda que no podemos agregar un solo momento a nuestra vida útil. Sin embargo, soy un preocupado de primera clase.

¿Por qué? Trato de evitar el dolor o problemas para los demás, y para mí, al ser proactivo. Esto ha parecido ser algo positivo. Sin embargo, sé que me tiene viviendo en el futuro en lugar del presente. Por lo tanto, a menudo pierdo las oportunidades actuales de “oler las rosas”.

También, debe haber un significado más profundo a esta admonición de Jesús. Sí, soy un preocupado, pero rara vez pienso en ello como pecaminoso. Pocas veces pienso en el hecho de que mi confianza en el Señor no es fuerte, ni siquiera después de tantos años de ver la sabiduría de Dios ya sea en el tiempo o en retrospectiva. A menudo, el Señor ha sido capaz de sacar lo bueno de lo que parecía malo. Él ha “escrito directamente con líneas torcidas”.

Uno de mis libros favoritos de lectura espiritual es el Abandono a la Divina Providencia, un clásico de Jean Pierre de Caussade, S.J., que leí por primera vez cuando tenía 18 años. He decidido volver a leerlo, ya que todavía no he logrado la práctica ideal del “sacramento del momento presente” que defiende.

Fr. De Caussade señala que María, la madre de Jesús, vivió una vida ordinaria en el plano exterior. Sin embargo, su vida interior era extraordinaria porque momento a momento su objetivo era cumplir la Voluntad de Dios. Señala que “... miró todo lo que tenía que hacer o sufrir en cada momento como el don de Aquel que llena de cosas buenas el corazón de aquellos que sólo tienen hambre y sed de Él.”

Más tarde, el P. De Caussade continúa diciendo que la santidad consiste en “hacer la voluntad de Dios, no en entender sus designios.” Eso puede ser un gran desafío para nosotros. Eso requiere confianza.

Eso requiere que recordemos la acción de Dios en nuestras vidas en el pasado. Nuestros hermanos y hermanas judíos modelan esto para nosotros en su celebración de la Fiesta de Pascua. Este recordatorio anual de la fidelidad de Dios en el pasado es una base sólida para la confianza en el presente.

Supongo que para que crezcamos más fuertes en nuestra confianza, debemos mirar el dolor y los problemas de la vida no como algo que evitar ansiosamente, sino aceptarlos junto con las alegrías de la vida como parte del plan de Dios.

Recordemos que para que las plantas [o nosotros] crezcan, debe haber sol y lluvia. Vivamos con gratitud al Señor en cada momento, si estamos gozando del sol o experimentando la lluvia confiando en que nuestro Padre sabe lo que necesitamos.

October 2, 2016 - The Good Servant

The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Reading I:  Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4

Response: Psalm 95

Reading II: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14

Gospel: Luke: 17: 5-10

These days when I hear the news with all the violence and controversy, I turn to the Lord and tell him that he is the only one who can solve our problems today. We hear in the first reading a similar plea from Habakkuk. Fr. John Foley, S.J. summarizes the Lord’s response, thus: God is saying, “I understand your sorrow and I will make things better.” However, in today’s world we are used to instant solutions. God asks us to wait and he will makes things better. Father Foley suggests that God may be delaying in order for us to deepen our faith.

In the Gospel, the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. His response is “If you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, you could do whatever it is that you want.” It seems that he is inviting them to work with him to make a better world. However, they need greater faith in Him and faith in themselves to do this. That is what the Lord is also asking of us today.

I recall vividly a visit with a young friend of mine and her family. While we were chatting on the patio, we could see her husband preparing a portion of their backyard to be a vegetable garden. He was busily raking up the soil. Beside him was their son who was about three years old. He was imitating the father with his own toy rake. It was such a touching scene!

Although the boy probably got in the way sometimes and was able to do little to really help, his dad let him attempt his little part. Of course, the little boy was happy to be working alongside his dad and very proud that he could “help” his father.

This scene reminds me of how our Father allows us to do our little part in making our world better for ourselves and others. In fact, he wants us to do our part. He doesn’t expect perfection from us. However, he knows it will make us happy.

We see this regularly when we hear the reactions of youth who volunteer to help others in special projects. We hear the sense of fulfillment expressed by older people who give of themselves to help others. We hear of the healing after loss which is brought about by those who choose to improve the life of others. Yes, the Lord knows what is best for us, even when we do not understand.

Lord, help us to place our trust in you.  Help us to give over our concerns to you.  Give us your peace!  Amen.

August 7, 2016 - Trust in the Lord

The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I: Wisdom 18:6-9

Responsorial Psalm: 33:1.12.18-19, 20-22

Reading II: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

or 11:1-2, 8-12

Gospel: Luke 12:32-48 or 12:35-40

Fr. John Foley, S.J. provides a beautiful reflection on trust in a relationship, whether with other humans or with God.  He acknowledges that it can be difficult to trust in these days of fragile human relationships and the threats of terrorist attacks.  However, he notes that “human bonding is entirely dependent on trust.”

It is also trust that the Lord asks of us. Abraham, our father in the faith, was asked to have total trust when God required him to travel with his family through the wilderness to a land he did not know. He was asked to believe that he and his wife Sarah, who was beyond the childbearing age, would have “descendants as numerous as the sands on the seashore.” Finally, a heartbreaking challenge was presented to him when the Lord told him to make a bloody sacrifice of his son. How could he continue to trust when the Lord asked him to kill his only son from whom all the descendants would issue?  

In the Epistle to the Hebrews, we hear the words: “...He [Abraham] thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.” Although he did not understand, he continued to trust in God remembering his love, promises, and fidelity of the past.

In His human nature, Jesus was also put to the test. Fr. Foley describes that situation the following way: “Jesus worried about God's abandoning him as he was being crucified. Yes, he trusted, even though he was filled with the raw human fear that God might have rejected him (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [Mt 27:46]). Even Jesus had to make a leap of faith in his Father. He knew the Father had been with him during all the challenges of his life. Therefore, in spite of his anxiety and questions, he took the risk to trust again. Thus, he was able to surrender to the Passion in all its horror. 

We thank you Jesus for your courage and sacrifice born of unconditional love. You ask us to trust as you did in the midst of our journeys through life. One of the blessings of my youth was when I met with my mentor, Sr. Aquin, who was preparing me to enter the convent. She told me an allegory, which is simply an imaginary story which stands for a meaningful truth. 

It went this way: Once upon a time there was a princess who had been promised in marriage to a prince who lived in a faraway land. She had to travel by herself through the wilderness until she would reach the land where her groom would meet her. Although frightened, she set off on her journey. After a short distance, she met a young man with a fiddle.  He offered to accompany her on her journey. When she was tired or scared by wild animals, he was at her side.  Sometimes, he would even play the fiddle to cheer her up.  After a long journey, they finally reached the land where she would meet the prince.  All of a sudden, the fiddler was transformed into a handsome young prince. Realizing how difficult it would be for her to travel through the wilderness by herself, he had disguised himself to accompany her on the journey. What a joyful wedding took place that very day! 

In this allegory,  the princess represents the soul journeying toward the Lord.  The fiddler (the prince in disguise) is Jesus in the Eucharist. He journeys with us through life giving us strength and consolation. At the end of  life’s journey, we will see Him as He truly is and be united with Him for eternity.   

Yes, we do need to trust our God’s merciful, faithful love. Recently, Jesus appeared to St. Faustina and asked her to spread the devotion to him as a merciful Savior. He wants us to trust that He will greet us with open arms when our life here is complete. On the image, which Jesus gave to the saint, we find the following words:

                                                        “Jesus, I trust in you.”

           Today, let us open our hearts wide and ask the Lord to fill them with trust like His.